Leasehold vs freehold: What’s the difference?

Wondering what the difference is between a leasehold and a freehold? This guide breaks down the ways you can own a property: freehold, leasehold, or leasehold with a share of the freehold. It also examines the costs and responsibilities of each, and how they affect what a property will cost to buy, sell, and maintain.

Management disputes

Your rights as a leaseholder

As a leaseholder you have rights preventing the landlord from taking advantage of you financially.

For example, you can ask to see:

A summary of what the service charges are being spent on.

How they have been calculated.

Any supporting paperwork, such as receipts for work done.

The landlord must also consult you:

About any building work costing more than £250.

Before doing any work lasting more than a year.

Before doing any work costing you over £100 a year.

What to do if you’re unhappy with the property management

If you’re unhappy with charges or the way the property is managed, you have two options:

1. The Right to Manage - lets leaseholders take over certain management tasks from the landlord without having to prove bad management. You’ll need to qualify, and set up a management company with the other leaseholders.